March seventh, 1998

That was the day....

The day that we finally said "I do"....

We were both twenty years old, had been together for almost four years, since our sophomore year in high school.

(more on that next month)

We had a date set in June but we were so tired of waiting....

So on the spur of the moment we put together our wedding with two weeks notice!

(Good thing we had already been planning...)

The perfect time of year for my favorite...

DAFFODILS AND IRISES.....

My best friend asked her preacher, Preacher Vaughn, if he would marry us...

Of course, he had been my grandmother's "den father" when his son was in her third grade class...

We collected daffodils out of every neighbor's and friend's yard for 30 miles and had two little old ladies arrange our bouquets.

Then we cut Yellow Bells to mix with the daffs and iris' and my best friend, Tomi, and I decorated the church with thousands of yellow flowers.

Carl's family got together to plan food...we had fruit, cheese trays, little sandwiches, vegetables and other lovely dishes. My other close friend's mother agreed to make our wedding cake.

Believe me it would have fed two hundred people when we only had about fifty! It was a white basket weave design. Simple and elegant and we sprinkled yellow rose petals all over it.

My friend, Tomi, arranged the music and organized everyone for us and my sister and my other close friend were my bride's maids, they wore vintage yellow dresses from the thrift store! We had Enya's "China Roses" play during the ceremony.

One of Carl's close friends carried a rose for Carl's mom (she passed when he was 15) to put on the front row where she would have sat.

My grandmother (Bamboo) and my dad walked me down the aisle. I was so happy to have her by my side. Carl waited for me at the front of the church and I remember I didn't want to walk down because I hate to have people starring at me. I just wanted it to be done so I wasn't being starred at! LOL!

The preacher spoke the words....said the prayers....and pronounced us.....

Finally,

The Hudson's.

It was such a happy day...friends, family and each other. Celebrating even with rain that day!

I remember thinking that this was all I wanted, in my life, was him.

To be HIS wife...to leave my family name behind.

We drove to Wilmington, the next day, to start our new lives there. Then from there, three days in the Outer Banks, our favorite place on Earth.

When I look at photos from that day, I think about how naive we were. So young and carefree... BUT I would never change anything. Best friends we have been since the beginning. Closer than most, we both knew that we were meant for each other. Still feel that way after twelve years...

I love you, honey! You are a wonderful husband! You provide for me and for Faith, you are devoted and loving and the best darn guy any girl could ask for...